No end to board pay: The Constitution Revision Commission rejects a proposal to end pay for members of local school boards. A majority of the members expressed concerns that ending pay would limit the diversity of candidates, especially in poor and rural counties. "If you cannot work for free, you cannot be a school board member with this proposal," St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson argued. Eight other proposed amendments will be discussed and voted on at a future meeting. Gradebook. Politico Florida.
Charter school authorizers: A proposed amendment to create charter school authorizers other than local school boards is changed to allow outside entities to also start public schools. By state law, that authority to start free public schools largely rests with local school boards. Commission member Erika Donalds, who introduced the original proposal, backs the amendment, which was brought by Patricia Levesque. redefinED.
Blaine Amendment: Former Florida Supreme Court Justice Raoul Cantero urges the Constitution Revision Commission to support a proposal that would end the prohibition against state money going to religious institutions, including schools. Citing a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, Cantero says the Blaine Amendment is likely to be declared unconstitutional. redefinED. News Service of Florida.
Flu concerns: The flu virus is sweeping the state with 107 outbreaks already reported. Ninety-four percent of those reports are from schools and health-care facilities. Baker, Bradford and Holmes counties have had elevated activity, according to the Florida Department of Health, and 46 of the state's 67 counties are reporting increasing flu activity. Only Jackson County has reported no cases. Several school districts have sent warnings home to parents. Tampa Bay Times. WOKV. Keynoter. Gainesville Sun.
Budget negotiations: The backstage maneuvering on the state budget is intensifying, and some Tallahassee insiders think a deal can be struck that keeps House Speaker Richard Corcoran's education budget largely intact if more money can be found for Gov. Rick Scott's economic development agency Enterprise Florida. Steve Bousquet, Tampa Bay Times. Sunshine State News.
National Spelling Bee: Ananya Vinay, a 12-year-old girl from Fresno, Calif., wins the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee in the 36th round. Sreeniketh Vogoti, an eighth-grader from St. Johns County, had the best performance for a Floridian. He was one of 15 finalists, but was eliminated in the eighth round. Associated Press. Washington Post. National Spelling Bee. Florida Times-Union. Orlando Sentinel. Associated Press. Palm Beach Post. Naples Daily News.
Extra testing: Many Florida high schools try to convince students to take two end-of-course exams for the same subject as a way to bolster the schools' grades from the state. Palm Beach Post.
School honor code: Sunlake High School is planning to institute an honor code this fall for students in its Advanced Placement courses. A recent instance of test-sharing prompted the move, which will have students signing a pledge to neither give nor receive unauthorized help on tests, or to tolerate others' use of such unapproved help. Gradebook. (more…)
